Overview
- At least 1,500 people were executed in Iran in 2025, about 47% for drug offenses, with concerns over intimidation and disproportionate impact on minorities and migrants.
- Saudi Arabia carried out 356 executions in 2025, and the UN says at least two involved individuals convicted for crimes committed as children.
- The United States recorded 47 executions, the highest in 16 years, as rights officials also flagged concerns over methods such as gas asphyxiation.
- Public executions continued in Afghanistan and secrecy persisted in China and North Korea, limiting reliable figures and oversight.
- Despite the surge, 170 countries have abolished the death penalty or adopted moratoria, with new reforms noted in several states as Israel weighs expanding capital punishment and the UN condemns executions by Hamas.